This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott is a veterinarian with over thirty years of experience. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987, and worked as a veterinary surgeon for 7 years. Afterward, Dr. Elliott worked as a veterinarian at an animal clinic for over a decade.

There are 46 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

Have you ever wondered what a horse is trying to say to you, or maybe to another horse? Horses use their body language and vocalizations to communicate with each other and to the people around them. All good horse training requires a thorough understanding of horse behavior and language to achieve successful and caring outcomes. Understanding your horse’s behavior and language will help you relate to your horse in a much more meaningful way and will deepen the bond between you and your horse.

Steps

Method1

Understanding Your Horse’s Eyes, Ears, and Facial Expressions

1

Look at your horse’s eyes. Paying attention to your horse’s eyes will help you understand how your horse is feeling (eg, alert, sleepy) at any given moment. Keep in mind that a horse’s vision is different from that of a person. For example, horses have a panoramic view of their environment (like a panoramic camera); because they are prey animals in the wild, it is important for them to have a wide view of their surrounding environment.[1] Horses can also have poor depth perception, meaning that they cannot always perceive how deep or shallow something is; what we see as a shallow puddle may look like a bottomless pit to your horse.[2]

If your horse’s eyes are bright and wide open, this means that your horse is alert and aware of his surroundings.[3]

If only one eye is open, it is possible that something is wrong with the other eye. You may need to call your veterinarian to determine why the other eye is closed.[5]

Sometimes your horse will move his head in different directions to get a better of view of his surroundings.[6]

2

Observe how your horse’s ears are positioned. Horses will hold their ears in different ways to pick up different signals from their environment and indicate how they feel about what’s going on around them. Horses can move both their ears at one time, or move them individually.

Ears that are slightly forward indicate that a horse is relaxed. If your horse’s ears are pricked forward, he may be feeling interested in, or maybe even threatened by, his environment.[7] If his ears indicate that he is feeling threatened, his nostrils will flare and his eyes will widen.[8]

Ears that are flattened back are a clear sign that your horse is upset.[9] If you are near your horse when you see this, move a safe distance away to protect yourself from injury.

If one ear is back, then your horse is likely listening to something behind him.[10]

If your horse’s ears are to the side, that means that he is concentrating yet relaxed. [11]

3

Watch your horse’s facial expressions. Horses can make a variety of facial expressions in response to their environment. Often, changes in a horse’s facial expression accompany other changes in body language.

A curl of the upper lip indicates the flehmen response. Although this looks funny to people, the flehmen response is a useful way for horses to interpret unfamiliar scents in their environment.[14] In order to display the flehmen response, your horse will extend his neck, raise his head, inhale, and roll his upper lip back and under itself; your horse's upper teeth and gums will be exposed when he does this.[15]

Foals, weanlings (recently weaned from their mother), and submissive yearlings will clack their teeth to make sure that older horses don’t hurt them. They’ll do this by first raising their neck and pushing out their head. They will then curl their upper and lower lips to expose all of their teeth, and repeatedly click their teeth together. You will hear a small clicking noise if your horse does this.[16]

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Method 1 Quiz

How can you tell if your horse is sleepy?

Its ears are flattened back.

Nope! If your horse’s ears are flattened back, it is most likely because your horse is upset, not sleepy. If you are near your horse when its ears are flattened back, you should move a safe distance away to protect yourself from injury. Click on another answer to find the right one...

It only has 1 eye open.

Not exactly! If your horse is sleepy, its eyes will droop. If it only has 1 eye open, this may be an indication that something is wrong with the other eye, such as an infection. Contact your veterinarian to determine why the other eye is closed. Try another answer...

Its chin or mouth are drooping

Correct! Your horse is most likely tired if you notice its chin and/or mouth droops. You may also notice that its ears are slightly forward, which indicates that it is relaxed. Read on for another quiz question.

It curls its upper lip.

Definitely not! A horse that curls its upper lip is performing the flehmen response. This is a way for horses to interpret unfamiliar scents. You might also notice your horse extend its neck, raise its head, inhale, and rolls its upper lip back and under itself to expose its upper teeth and gums. Click on another answer to find the right one...

Method2

Understanding Your Horse’s Legs, Posture, and Voice

1

Observe what your horse is doing with his legs. Horses will use their back and front legs in different ways to indicate how they are feeling. Horses can inflict serious injury with their legs, so understanding how your horse uses his legs to communicate will be very important for your personal safety.

Your horse will paw or stamp the ground with his front legs when he is feeling impatient, frustrated, or uncomfortable.[17][18]

Splayed (spread out) front legs indicates that your horse is getting ready to run or bolt. It could also mean that your horse has medical issues that prevents him from standing properly; your veterinarian will be needed to diagnose the underlying cause.[19]

Lifting either one front leg or back leg signals a threat. If you see your horse doing this, step back to a safe distance; a horse kick can cause serious injury.[20]

Your horse may cock his back leg by resting the front edge of his hoof on the ground and lowering his hip. This indicates that he is relaxed.[21]

Your horse will sometimes engage in Bucking behavior, which is when he raises his back legs in the air. This is often playful behavior (sometimes accompanied by grunting and squealing), but can also indicate uncertainty and fear, especially if he's being ridden for the first time.[22]

Rearing up is another dual-sided behavior. It can signal playfulness in foals in the field but, if it is an angry stallion in fight mode, it can be a sign of fear when the horse cannot escape the situation.[23]

2

Look at your horse’s overall posture. You can understand how your horse is feeling by looking at him as a whole to see how he moves and stands. For example, if your horse’s back is raised, he could be sore from having the saddle on him for a long time.[24]

Rigid muscles and stiff movements can mean that your horse is nervous, stressed, or in pain.[25] If you are not sure why your horse looks rigid or stiff, your veterinarian can conduct various behavioral and medical tests (dental exam, lameness exam) to determine the cause.[26]

Trembling is a sign of fear. Your horse may tremble to the point of wanting to run or fight. If he does this, give him plenty of space and time to calm down. He may also need to be desensitized to his fear; an experienced veterinary behaviorist can help your horse overcome his fear.[27]

Your horse may swing his hindquarters to indicate that he’s getting ready to kick; move away quickly if he starts doing this. If your horse is female, she may swing her hindquarters to indicate that she is in heat and trying to get the attention of a male horse.[28]

3

Listen to what noises your horse makes. Horses have a range of noises that they will make to communicate different things. Understanding what these different noises mean will help you better understand what your horse is trying to communicate with you and other horses.

Your horse will neigh for several reasons. He may neigh to indicate anxiety or distress; this will be a very high-pitched sound and could be accompanied by a lowered tail and flickering ears. He may also neigh to acknowledge his presence.[29] A confident neigh will sound like a bugle and will be accompanied by a slightly lifted tail, forward-pricked ears.

A nicker is a soft, throaty sound. To make this sound, your horse will keep his mouth closed while producing the sound from his vocal chords. A mare will sometime use this sound with her foal. Your horse may also make this sound when he knows that it’s almost feeding time.[30] This is usually a friendly sound.

Squeals can be a display of threat. Two horses who are meeting each other for the first time may squeal at each other.[31] Squeals can also be a sign of playfulness, such as when your horse is bucking.

Your horse will snort by inhaling quickly and then exhaling through his nose. With this sound, he could be signaling that he is alarmed when another animal has come too close to him.[32] He could also be indicating that he's excited about something. Be aware that the act of snorting can get horses worked up; you may need to calm him down if this happens.

Just like people, your horse will sigh to express relief and relaxation. The sighs are different for each each emotion: relief–deep inhale, then a slow exhale through the nose or mouth; relaxation–lowered head with an exhalation that makes a fluttering noise.

Groans can indicate different things. For example, your horse may groan if he's in pain during riding (eg, landing hard after a jumping a fence, his rider thuds heavily in the saddle). He might also groan when he's happily exercising without pain. Groaning could also indicate more serious medical issues, such as constipation or gastric pain due to ulcers. If you have trouble determine why your horse is groaning, consult a horse expert.

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Method 2 Quiz

Why might your horse nicker?

To indicate anxiety.

Nope! Your horse will most likely neigh, not nicker, to indicate anxiety or distress. This neigh is a very high-pitched sound often accompanied by a lowered tail and flickering ears. There’s a better option out there!

To be friendly.

Yes! A nicker is a soft, throaty sound that your horse makes with its mouth closed. It is a friendly sound. Mares often use this sound with their foals, and some horses make this sound when they know it’s almost feeding time. Read on for another quiz question.

To show it is alarmed.

Not quite! Horses usually do not nicker when they are alarmed. Instead, they snort. They do this by inhaling quickly and then exhaling through the nose. Horses often snort when another animal comes too close to them. Pick another answer!

To express pain.

Not exactly! If your horse is in pain, it will most likely groan, not nicker. However, your horse may also groan when it is happily exercising without pain. If you notice your horse groaning frequently or for the first time, you might want to consult a veterinarian to determine the cause. Guess again!

Method3

Understanding Your Horse’s Head, Neck, and Tail

1

Watch how your horse has his head positioned. As with other parts of the horse’s body, your horse will move his head in different ways depending on how he’s feeling. The position of his head signals a variety of moods.

If your horse is holding his head high, he is showing that he is alert and curious.[33]

A lowered head could mean several different things. It could mean that your horse has accepted a particular situation or command.[34] It could also mean that your horse is depressed, which could require additional workup from your veterinarian.[35]

If your horse is snaking his head (lowering his head slightly and moving his neck from side to side), he is showing signs of aggression. If possible, remove your horse from whatever is aggravating him. If you cannot do this safely, move as far back from your horse as you can until he calms down. If he is walking or running while doing this, he is a leader trying to move his herd. Know that when he does this to people, he sees them as lower and himself as a leader.[36]

Your horse may turn his head to look back at its flank, which could signal abdominal discomfort or just an itch. This is not a cause for concern unless it is repeated and seems to be accompanied by biting.[37]

2

Observe how your horse moves his tail. Your horse will swish his tail for reasons than swatting away flies or insects. Although natural tail position can vary by breed, there are some tail positions that are common across breeds.[38]

In addition to swatting away bothersome pests, tail swishing can also indicate agitation and can be a warning for other horses to keep their distance. If your horse is agitated, he will swish his tail more quickly and aggressively than if he was swatting away pests. Doing this while walking away from a horse that has moved in means they have surrendered to a leader, but are not happy about it.[39]

Your horse will often raise his tail when he is feeling happy and alert.[40] In foals, a tail held high over the back can indicate either playfulness or alarm.[41]

If your horse’s tail is clamped down, your horse may be experiencing some discomfort, such as a fly on his underside or may be uncomfortable with your actions.[42]

3

Observe how your horse's neck looks and feels. Your horse will hold his neck in different ways to convey whether he's feeling tense, relaxed, etc. Knowing these different neck positions will help you better understand your horse's body language.

If your horse's neck is stretched out and the muscles under his neck feel loose, this can indicate that he is relaxed and happy.[43]

Absolutely! Your horse may raise his tail when he is feeling happy and alert. However, if your horse is a foal, a raised tail can also signify alarm or playfulness. Read on for another quiz question.

It will swish its tail.

Not quite! Your horse will most likely not swish its tail if it is happy and alert. This is usually a warning for other horses to keep their distance. It could also be a way for your horse to swat away flies and other pests. Choose another answer!

It will clamp its tail down.

Nope! If your horse clamps its tail down, it may be experiencing some discomfort, such as a fly on its underside, or it may be uncomfortable with whatever you are doing. This is not a sign that your horse is happy and alert. There’s a better option out there!

Why does my horse swish his tail when I am riding him? He is not swatting or chasing flies.

wikiHow Contributor

Community Answer

You may want to check and see if your horse's saddle is fitting correctly. If the saddle is pushing against his high withers, it might be causing him pain. You might also be interested in calling an Equine Chiropractor to check his back. Your horse might just be swishing his tail for the fun of it, too.

Like any horse unsure of their surroundings, your horse might be a bit nervous the first few times you approach it. Ease up to the horse slowly, let it smell you, pet it, and give it some treats. After a while of doing this routine, you'll begin to win the horse's trust. Just move slowly, and take your time.

Approach from their shoulder on the left side if possible. Another way is to approach the from the back end, but when doing this, make sure you stay kicking-distance away from the horse in case the horse is startled and kicks. If the horse does, it is not because he is trying to hurt you. He just got startled and that is their first instinct. Also, try talking to your horse while walking over, then it will feel safer whether you approach from the side or backend.

Tips

Spend time simply watching your horse from a distance. This will help you get a better understanding of how your horse uses specific body parts, and body parts in tandem, to communicate.

Understanding how your horse communicates will take some time, but it will be time well spent so that you can know what your horse is trying to say.

If you are unsure what your horse is trying to tell you, consult a horse expert that will help you better understand your horse’s body language.

Remember that one facial expression or action, such as stamping feet, can mean a multitude of things.

Horses are prey animals and will likely see you as a predator. Because they are such large animals, knowing the body language that indicates when your horse feels threatened or in danger will help protect you from injury.[45][46]

If it is a stallion and it shows any body language of aggression you need to move him off of you, because if you don't he will think that he is the boss of you. You must be assertive make him or her understand you are the boss and they aren't.

Warnings

The most dangerous horses are often those that were babied as foals. They do not know they are stronger than humans and are used to laying on top of, jumping up on, and pushing people. These horses do not understand because the behavior was reinforced throughout childhood and they know they are not trying to hurt anyone. Some male horses like this will even try to mount an unsuspecting person. Please exercise extreme caution when interacting with horses of this background.

Remember that training is a process, not an event; in many ways more like learning to speak than learning to add. One can say they will learn to add on this day, but no one can say they will learn to speak on this day. People just progress until they realize suddenly that they are speaking. When did you become fluent in your first language? It is hard to say. But I am sure a school could give certain dates upon which you learned to add. Teach your horse skills like people teach babies to talk.

A helmet may prevent some injuries, but cannot protect from everything. In fact, they often inspire an overconfident recklessness which can cause people to engage in behavior they might never dream of under normal circumstances. It is fine, even encouraged to wear a helmet, but riders must be careful to remain realistic about their and their horses' ability level.

A horse that always bucks and rears is a reflection of his training. It is advisable to stick with groundwork until he has mastered that, then slowly reintroduce riding.

To understand horse communication, start by paying attention to your horse’s ears, which will be slightly forward or to the side if your horse is relaxed. Alternatively, if its ears are pricked forward or flattened back, your horse may be upset. Additionally, listen to your horse and assume it’s happy when it nickers, or relived when it sighs. However, if you hear squealing or high-pitched neighing, your horse may be feeling threatened or in distress. You should also check your horse’s tail to make sure it’s not clamped down, because that can signal discomfort. For more tips from our Veterinary co-author, like how to interpret your horse’s head and neck movements, read on!

Article Info

FEATURED ARTICLE

This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott is a veterinarian with over thirty years of experience. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987, and worked as a veterinary surgeon for 7 years. Afterward, Dr. Elliott worked as a veterinarian at an animal clinic for over a decade.